Arguments begin about significance of Judas text

Early writings not included in Bible describe a far more diverse early Christianity

TARA DOOLEY and RICHARD VARA, Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle

Published 5:30 am, Friday, April 7, 2006

Betrayer or friend? Truth or fiction? Christian or not?

The release of a new translation of an ancient Coptic text indicating that Judas may have been a trusted friend acting his part in the Christian drama at the urging of Jesus will offer interesting insight into alternative Christian ideas for some Houston scholars.

For other theologians, it will simply be an ancient text having little impact on traditional Christian belief.

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Betrayer

Throughout history, Judas has been vilified as the man who betrayed Jesus with a kiss.

The text released Thursday by the National Geographic Society, will not change the perception of Judas. The idea that Jesus asked Judas to betray him is "completely fiction," said the Rev. Daniel Callam, associate professor of theology at the University of St. Thomas, a Catholic university in Houston.

But for some scholars of early Christianity, the "Gospel of Judas" will join the the library of early Christian texts not included in the Bible. "If it is authentic, it is a major find," said Jeffrey Kripal, chairman of Rice University's religious studies department and author of The Serpent's Gift: Gnostic Reflections on the Study of Religion to be published in October. "No question about it. You have to get by that 'if' first."

Dismissed

There have been a number of discoveries of text by early Christians not in the Bible, including the gospels of Thomas and
Mary Magdalene
.

Many are part of what is known as the Gnostic Gospels. Often these texts were dismissed as heretical. In many cases, their existence was only familiar to scholars through the writings of those who denounced them.

Among the most important of the original texts was the Nag Hammadi library discovered in Egypt in 1945.

"From a historian's point of view, just because what you are looking at in the Nag Hammadi texts, early Christianity was far more diverse and perhaps contentious than people realize," Kripal said.

These Gnostic gospels have become increasingly popular. Some have been popularized. For example, Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code draws on some of the Gnostic writings.

"The idea of these secret gospels that have an alternative form of Christianity is attractive to people," he said. "They are discouraged by contemporary forms of Christianity."